NGOP0030-INTERVIEW WITH OLUWATOBILOBA AJIBADE (PRICELESS VIRTUES INTERNATIONAL)

NGOpodcast

It is always important to remember that girls are still faced with many challenges related to gender. They are often subjected to rigid outdated practices, such as child marriage. Girls who marry before age 18 are often denied access to education and are vulnerable to violence from their husbands.

According to a UNESCO report in 2013, 31 million girls of primary school age were not in school and about one out every four girls in developing countries did not complete their primary school education.

These statistics are staggering and they are not just mere numbers. They represent a pool of untapped girl power and potential. They represent what the state of our community would look like in years to come.

In my country, Nigeria, girls’ education is improving but it remains a challenge due to number of factors. Early pregnancy, gender-based violence and child marriage continue to increase the rate at which girls’ dropout of school.

30% of the girls in Nigeria often get married as early as age 15-19. This, coupled with other pressing factors, prevents many girls from getting an education in Nigeria.

The challenges girls face are disturbing and need longstanding solution. It is crucial to know that education for a fundamental right for every girl child.

So, what can you do to help girls in your community develop the courage, confidence and character they need to be tomorrow’s leaders? What can you do to save their RIGHT to education from being trampled upon?

These coupled with many questions would be answered on this episode!

On this episode, I would be discussing with Oluwatobiloba Ajibade, the executive director of Priceless Virtues international on importance of girls’ education and what her organization is doing to harness the potentials and strength of the girl-child through education for individual and societal impacts.